Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A great cold day for tea

A couple of days before the historic snow fall in Taipei, I practiced my Chaxi for tea class. And thanks to very cold temperatures, I felt like using my Nilu with charcoal fire. I was pleasantly surprised by how much heat a few pieces of charcoal can produce!

For a cold day and with Chinese New Year approaching, I felt that the red color would be a nice choice to warm things up.

Preheating teapot and cups is essential. The cold even guides my choice of cups: the ivory flower cups. Their tall shape means there is less contact between the tea and the cold air. This helps preserve the warmth of the brew a little longer.

And the ivory color is also a good fit with the tea I've chosen: a high oxidized traditional Oriental Beauty.

The color of the brew appears a little bit warmer.

High oxidized tea creates a sweet warmth that extends from the palate to the whole body. This Oriental Beauty adds a silky, refined taste and dark spice flowery notes.

The lion dominates this peaceful world from his white cloud. That's where I pour the hot water with calm and concentration.

And in the cups, the passion of tea and fire brings back an endearing summer feeling.

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About Me

My name is Stéphane Erler. I live in Taiwan since 1996 and have been studying tea with Teaparker. He's a worldwide tea expert and author of over 30 tea books. The study of tea isn't just theoretical, but it's also rooted in daily practice. It's a path of continuous improvement. As my brewing technique improves I get access to better teas and better accessories. These things go hand in hand. My blog documents my learning since 2004. And I have set up an online tea boutique with my selection of top quality teas, accessories and tea culture.